Bobbin clutch



G.. H. MAGRATH BoBBIN CLUTCH Y July`l5, '1941. l

Filed March 9.,l 1939 zs'neetl-sheet 2 e 0% um? Patented July 15, 1941 UNiTED STATES-PATENT oFFicE BOBBIN CLUTCH George H. Magrath, Whitinsville, Mass.

Application March 9, 1939, Serial No. 260,679

(Cl. .M2-46.6)

7 Claims.

This invention relates to bobbin clutches of the type having expansible clutching members which maintain the bobbin rmly in position during the spinning operation.

In bobbin clutches of the aforesaid type the lowcr ends of the clutching members are usually either mounted directly on the whirl or are supported so that they extend into a recess formed in the upper face of the whirl, and in either case their contacting surfaces usually extend through openings formed in a case which is secured to the blade independently of the whirl. Such constructions are subject to the objection that due to repeated doing of the bobbin the whirl is apt to be driven down on the blade, thus separating it from the case with a consequent displacement of the clutching members which renders them inoperative. A further objection to such constructions is that when the clutching members are contracted by the bobbin there is produced about their free ends a gap in which lint collects, with the result that the operation of one or more of the clutching members is impaired. Consequently, the bob-bin is not maintained properly 'centered and considerable damage may result, particularly when operating at high speeds.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a bobbin clutch which overcomes the aforementioned diiiculties and to provide a bobbin clutch which is of simple design and of strong and durable construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Further objects relate to various features of construction, and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: Y

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a bobbin clutch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the bobbin clutch shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the outer casing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of the clutch spring;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing an inner case and clutch spring of modied construction;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section illustrating a further modification;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on the lines 8 8 and 9 9, respectively, of Fig. 7;

Figs. 10, 12 and 14 are longitudinal sections illustrating other modication's;

Figs. 11l and 13 are sections on the lines Il II and I3 I3 of Figs. 10 and 12, respectively; and n Fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the clutch spring of the embodiment shown in Fig. 14.

'I'he embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprisesI a lblade l having a whirl 2 mounted thereon, the upper face of the whirl being formed with a recess 4 which receives the lower end of a bobbin clutch which comprises an outer case 5, an inner case 6, and a clutch spring 'I, the entire 'clutch mechanism being supported independently of the whirl. The outer case 571s forme-d wi-th a head I0 having a press nt on the blade I and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ngers Il depending from the head andv defining a plurality of elongate slots or openings I2 (Fig. 3). The clutch spring 'I comprises a substantially flat body member I5 formed with a central opening to accommodate the blade I and a plurality of depending expansible spring ngers or segments I 6 which accurately fit the slots I2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The clutch spring 'I is held in position by the upper end of the inner c-ase 6 which has a press fit on the blade I, the lower end of the inner 'case being provided with a ange I8 which loosely fits within the recess 4 of the whirl 2, as shown in Fig. 1.

The flange I8 is formed with an annular recess 2Il in which the lower ends of the case fingers I I have a tight or pressed t and in which the spring ngers I6 extend, their lower ends preferably terminating above the bottom of the recess, as shown in Fig. 2. The spring fingers I6 are of somewhat lighter or thinner stock than @the Acase ngers II and are of course properly tempered and shaped so as Yto provide longitudinally and transversely convex surfaces, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The construction and arrangement of parts are such that the spring fingers I6 are normally .held against the outer wall of the recess 20 which constitutes a stop.y limiting their outward I6 accurately iit the slots I2 and are held against the outer Wall of the recess 20, all gaps and recesses are eliminated, thus minimizing if not overcoming the danger of lint collecting about these parts.

When the bobbin B is applied about the blade, its base seats on the upper face of the whirl, as shown in Fig. 1, and the wall of its bore engages the spring fingers which are flexed inwardly about their upper ends, the inward movement being limited by the engagement of their lower ends with the inner wall of the recess 2B. Although repeated doliing of the bobbin may result in driving the whirl downwardly on the blade, it will be noted that such displacement of the whirl does not interfere with the operation of the clutch mechanism.

I'he embodiments shown in Figs. 6 to l5 are, in principle, similar to and have the same mode of operation as the embodiment previously described, and the same or similar reference characters are applied to corresponding parts. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 the upper ends of the slots in the case 5L are spaced from the head lila and the upper ends of the spring lingers iba are formed with shoulders or olsets 25 which accommodate the portions of the case immediately above the slots. The body member 15a of the clutch spring is firmly held against the under surface of the head ille by the upper end of the inner case Ga which is formed With a shoulder, as indicated at 26, so as to lit accurately against the shoulders 25 of the clutch spring.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 to 9 the clutch spring 'l is supported by an inner case 6b whose outer face is cut away or recessed, as indicated at 2 (Figs. 8 and 9), to permit a greater inward liexing movement of the spring lingers I3. Instead of providing the lower end of the inner case with an integral flange as in the previously described embodiment, I provide a ring 28 which has a press t about the lower ends of the case fingers (not shown)` and is'eective to clamp them against the walls of the in ner case lying between the' recessed areas 2i. The ring 23 and case lingers define recesses in which the lower ends of the spring lingers i6 are loosely received, it being understood that the outward flexing movement of the spring lingers is lim-v ited by the ring 2S which may occupy a recess formed in the upper face of the whirl, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment lshown in Figs. l and 11 the case and clutch spring 'I are substantially the same as in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5, but the inner case 6e is recessed, as indicated at 32, between its ends so as to permit a greater inward flexing movement of the spring lingers than would otherwise be possible. In all other respects the construction and arrangement of parts are substantially identical to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 12 and 13 comprises an outer case 5 and clutch spring 1 which may be of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 6, but in place of an inner case I provide a supporting member 35 which has a press lit on the blade l and is positioned so as to clamp the body l5 ol the clutch spring against the under surface of the head iii of the case. The lower end of the clutch mechanism is provided with a retaining member 36 circumposed about and in relation to the blade l and formed with an annular recess 20. The lower ends of the case lingers H have a forced t Within the recess '2t and the free ends of the spring fingers I5 loosely lit thereink as in the previously described embodiments, it

being noted that the walls of the recess constitute stops for limiting the inward and outward eXing movement of the spring lingers I6.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 14 and 15 is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 6, in that the outer case 5d and the inner case 6d are modilied to accommodate a clutch spring 1d formed with a cylindrical body portion 38 which is mounted on a neck 4U formed on the upper end of the inner case. The spring lingers I6 accurately fit the slots in the outer case and the lower ends of both the case lingers and the spring lingers are received in the recess 2i) formed in the llange I8 at the lower end of the inner case, as in the previously described embodiments.

In each of the embodiments herein shown the clutch spring is rmly clamped in position against the head of the outer case, and as the spring lingers snugly lit between the fingers of the outer case, the clutch spring is securely anchored so as to withstand the shocks and stresses towhich such parts are subjected. It will be further noted that in each of the embodiments the clutching mechanism and associated parts are supported independently of the whirl and, as previously pointed out, the clutch mechanism remains operative even through the whirl is displaced by repeated dolings of the bobbin. Moreover, the construction and arrangement of parts in each of the embodiments are such as to minimize if not to eliminate the accumulation of lint or other extraneous matter about the clutch mem-bers, and hence a more reliable operation and a lower maintenance cost is assured.

While I have shown and described dillerent desirable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion, and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on said blade, an outer case having a head lixed to said blade and a depending skirt formed with spaced openings, clutching means comprising a body member having depending eX- pansible segments acting through said openings for frictionally holding a bobbin, and an inner case mounted on said blade independently of said whirl and fitting within said outer case, the upper end of said inner case clamping said body member against the head of said outer case.

2. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on said blade, an outer case having a head liXed to said blade and a depending skirt formed with spaced openings, clutching means comprising a body member having depending eXpansible segments acting through said openings for frictionally holding a bobbin, and an inner case mounted on said blade independently of said whirl and litting within said outer case, the upper end of said inner case clamping said body member against the head of said outer case, the lower end of said inner case having means for limiting the movement of said expansible segments.

3. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on said blade, an outer case having a head lixed to said blade and a depending skirt formed with spaced openings, an inner case mounted on said blade and tting within said outer case, clutching means comprising a body member interposed between the head of the outer case and the upper end of the inner case, saidV body member having depending expansible segments acting through said openings -for frictionally engaging a bobbin, and means carried by the lower end of said inner case for receiving the lower ends of said eXpansible segments to limit their movement.

4. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on said blade, an outer case having a head fixed to said blade and a depending skirt formed with spaced openings, clutching means comprising a .body member having depending eX- pansible segments `acting through said openings for frictionally holding -a bobbin, an inner case mounted on said blade independently of said whirl and itting within said outer case, the upper end of said inner case clamping said body member against the head of said outer case, and

means circumposed about said -blade and supported lindependently of said whirl for limiting the movement of said segments.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade for supporting the lower end of a bobbin positioned about the blade, and clutching mechanism mounted on said blade above said whirl, .but independent thereof, for frictionally holding the bobbin in position on said whirl, said clutching mechanism including a case iiXed to said blade and having spaced openings in its periphery, clutching elements having parts acting through said opening and frictionally engaging the bobbin, supporting means securedto said blade for Y maintaining said clutching means in position, and means circumposed about said blade for limiting the action of said clutching elements, said clutching mechanism constituting a unit structurally independent of said whirl so that axial movement of said whirl away from said clutching mechanism does not impair the operation of the latter.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade for supporting the lower end of avbobbin positioned about the blade, and clutching mechanism mounted on said blade above said whirl, but independent thereof, for frictionally holding the bobbin in position on said whirl, said clutching mechanism including a case iixed to said blade and having spaced openings in its periphery, depending clutching fingers acting through said openings for frictionally engaging the bobbin, means secured to said blade for maintaining said clutching elements in position, and means deiining an annular recess for receiving the lower ends of said fingers, said clutching mechanism constituting a unit structurally independent of said whirl so that axial movement of said whirl away from said clutching mechanism does not impair the operation of the latter.

'7, Apparatus of the character described comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade for supporting the lower end of a bobbin positioned about Y the blade, 4and clutching mechanism mounted on saidblade above said Whirl, but independent thereof, for frictionally holding the bobbin in position on said whirl, said clutching mechanism including a case fixed to said bl-ade and having spaced openings in its periphery, clutching elements having parts acting through said openings for frictionally holding a bobbin, and supporting means xed to said blade for holding said clutching means in position, said supporting means having at its lower end a flange formed with an annular recess which receives the lower end of said case, said clutching mechanism constituting a unit structurally independent of said whirl so that axial movement of said whirl away from said clutching mechanism does not impair the operation of the latter.

GEORGE H. MAGRATH. 

